In this episode of the Critical Oxygen Podcast, Dave Schell and I discuss lactate and debunk some common misconceptions. We start by talking about how lactate is produced by muscles during exercise, and created to a greater extent when carbohydrate breakdown outstrips the rate at which oxygen can be used in the mitochondria. Lactate does not cause fatigue and actually serves as a beneficial fuel for the body. If you are going to measure lactate for your training please ensure repeated measurements!

TAKEAWAYS
- Lactate is produced by muscles at all times but when carbohydrate breakdown outstrips the rate of oxygen use in the mitochondria lactate accumulation in the blood is higher.
- Lactate does not cause fatigue and actually serves as a beneficial fuel for the body.
- Lactate measurements require repeated testing and understanding of individual responses.

If you have a question or topic you want us to address, leave a comment!

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CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Overview
06:41 The Role of Lactate as a Fuel Source
24:54 The Norwegian Method and Lactate Threshold
30:40 Conclusions

KEYWORDS
lactate, fatigue, physiology, misconceptions, lactate threshold, lactate production, lactate consumption, lactate buffering, lactate tolerance, lactate shuttle, Norwegian method, interval training